Construction crews began work Tuesday 鈥� Flag Day 鈥� on a park at National Harbor that aims to open Sept. 11, which is Patriot Day.
The will brim with patriotism, and will include the largest American flag in the region, and one of the very biggest you鈥檒l find anywhere in the country.
鈥淓very city needs a park, and National Harbor is no exception,鈥� said Kent Digby, executive vice president of National Harbor. 鈥淭he flag itself is 50 by 80 feet 鈥� or 4,000 square feet of flag, which is quite large 鈥� it鈥檚 as tall as the Capital Wheel.”
It鈥檒l fly from a pole 177.7 feet high, since the very first Flag Day was observed in 1777.
鈥淚t will be virtually impossible to miss,鈥� Digby said, since visitors will drive right under it as they arrive. 鈥淭he park is fully lighted and it will fly 24/7, seven days a week,鈥� Digby added.
Surrounding the flag will be 13 smaller American flags, forming a ring in a similar manner to the one encircling the Washington Monument. New artwork will also be featured there, including sculptures of presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.
Sculptures of American bison specially crafted for the park will also be on display. Rose bushes, oak trees and other 鈥渘ational鈥� features will be incorporated into its landscaping.
鈥淭he park itself is set up for doing something special in it,鈥� he added, since it鈥檒l include an amphitheater for concerts and other events as well.
The proximity of National Harbor to the Potomac River means that there will be more than enough of a breeze to help the nylon flag wave.
鈥淓ven a flag this large, about 160 pounds … only takes about an 8 to 12 mph breeze to have it fly,鈥� said Digby. 鈥淣ational Harbor enjoys some great breezes because of the water, and the movement of air over the water and over the land, so I think the flag is going to fly a whole lot versus just sitting still.鈥�
